Internal brake for motor vehicle wheels



INTERNAL BRAKE FOR MOTOR VEHICLE WHEELS Eiled March 14, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i //vv 7-0;?

1 1 W/ TNESE' y Y %MJV 2 I A 770 NEYS Oct. 24, 1933. F c THOMPSON 1,931,516

INTERNAL BRAKE FOR MOTOR VEHICLE WHEELS Filed March 14. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 TTURNEFS Patented Oct. 24, 1933 t r 1,931,516

INTERNAL BRAKE FOR MOTOR VEHICLE WHEELS Frank C. Thompson, Syracuse, N. Y.

Application March 14, 1928. Serial No. 261,662

1 Claim. (01. 188-78 This invention relates to a mechanical brake Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of the and more particularly to an internal expanding brake drum taken in the plane of line 1-1, and self-retracting brake adapted to be used in Figure 2, showing an end face view of the brake connection with the brake drums of motor ve mechanism and support therefor. hicle wheels in which the ends of a split brake vFigure 2 is a horizontal sectional View taken 60 band are spaced a sufficient distance apart cirin the plane of line 2-2, Figure 1. cumferentially to receive an auxiliary friction Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional block or segment adapted to be forced radially view taken in the plane of line 3-3, Figure 1. into frictional engagement with the brake drum Figurel is a detail sectional view taken in the a and having a limited circumferential movement plane of line 4-4, Figure 1. 5 by said frictional engagement for expanding the In order that the invention may be clearly unbrake band against the inner periphery of the derstood I have shown a portion of the chassis drum as the wheel is rotated forwardly or rearframe of a motor vehicle surrounding one of the wardly. V I rear axle sections as --A and provided with a I The main object of this invention is to enable stationary circular disk -1 serving as a par- 0 the auxiliary friction block or segment to be tial closure for the inner open end of a brake forced to its brake-applying position with a minidrum-2 which is secured by bolts 3 to mum movement and power and to utilize the the adjacent wheel 4- to, rotate with said frictional engagement between it and the rotatwheel. a ing brake drum for automatically expanding the The axle A may be journaled in any wellbrake band into frictional engagement with the known manner in the tubular portion as l' drum under a greatly increased force or power ofthe chassis frame to rotate therein while the over that applied to the segment. wheel 4- may be mounted in any conventional O Of the specific Objects iS'tO 111178113056 Su t manner to the outer end of the axle to rotate 25 able but similar levers between the ends of the therewith or'to rotate thereon.

m nt n ja n d of th brak band The brake drum may also be of conventional whereby the slightest circumferential movement form and provided as usual with an inner cylinof the brak sho r se m n by f i i l a drical. friction surface -5- of any desired axial ment with the rotating drum in either direction length between the outer end of the drum and 30- will automatically force the brake band into fricplate 1 to form an intervening space for the tiona engagement W the brake drum throughreception of the brake members and their supout practically its entire length and under a mulports. plyi s l v r so a to Obtain a m x A circular brake band -6-- extends circumbr k pr of h band in h m w h ferentially, around and within the brake drum 35 a minimum brake pressure of the segment against 2 i ermahyv spaced relation thereto and the Same drum; p theomajor portion of the length thereof but is A further oblect is to proVlde means for auto divided through one side to form an intervening matically restoring the brake band and segment space d receiving a brake Shoe or supplemental. to their normal or neutral positions out of fricfriction between the ends thereof and, 40 tional engagement with the drum when the radial preferabty in the horizontal plane and some pressure of the segment against the drum is retance in from of the axle leased. 1 3 I I Another object is to provide means for limiting 3 2 ifg i jf s i gfig g g jgg i the circumferential movement of the brake band th f th b 1 f 5 f th 45 by the corresponding movement of the friction the leng o m {e O e block whereby the frictional engagement of the u but m sufficlenfdy spaced relatlon band with the drum will be gradual from its cent e the O t W the drumand plate '5 tertoward its ends for utilizing practically the to W endwls? frlctlon therewllfh, and also to entire length of the band as a braking medium in permit free Tadlal mevement of band 50 addition tothe frictional resistance produced by brake Shoethe operation of the segment, The band -6- comprises an inner supporting Other objects and uses relating to specific parts band -8 0 relatively thin Spring metal and of thebrake and its operating means will'be an outer lining --9- of fibrous material combrought out in the following description. monly used for this purpose and riveted or other- 55 In the drawings:- wise secured to theperiphery of the inner supporting band -8 to form a substantially unitary part thereof.

The brake band 6 is supported in its neutral position in proximity but in slightly spaced relation to the inner periphery of the drum ---2 by means of a spider having a central hub -10-- and series of, in this instance three, radially projecting arms -11 which are preferably integrally united at their inner ends tothe periphery of the hub 10.

hub -10- is substantially circular and concentric with the axis of the shaft -A and is rigidly secured to the inner face of the sta-* tionary plate 1 by rivets 12 or equivalent fastening to remain stationary with ref erence to the drum -2-- and axle --A- thereby forming what may be termed a non-rotatable frame.

The outer ends of the arms -11 are elongated axially beyond the corresponding ends of the brake band 6- and are formed with peripheral grooves -l3- for receiving said band and holding it against axial displacement, said arms also serving to support the band circumferentially in its normal or neutral position and substantially concentric with and in spaced relation to the periphery of the drum -2.

The hub 10- is also provided with a central forwardly projecting radial arm -14- disposed in a horizontal plane substantially midway between the ends of the brake band ,6 when the latter is in its normal or neutral position, said arm 14= being provided with a central axially extending journal bearing l5- in which is journaled a rock shaft 16-.

This rock shaft extends axially some distance beyond the inner and outer faces of the arm -+l'{l-'and also through an opening 17- [in the adjacent portion of the plate'1.

, The outer end of the rock shaft extends into the interior of the drum 5 some distance inwardly from the inner periphery thereof and is provided with an eccentric pin or stud 18 which is journaled in a block or cross head 19- on the supporting framefor the shoe as shown more clearly in Figure 3. f

A crank arm 20 is secured to the rock shaft -16 just at the inner side of the plate land is adapted to be connected to any suitable operating mechanism such, for example, as the usual. emergency lever or pedal lever commonly employed in the operation of brake mech-' anisms of motor vehicles for rocking theshaft --l6- in reverse directions and thereby causing l a similar radial reciprocatorymovement of the cross head or'block 19-- between the adjacent portions of the peripheries of the stationary hub -10 and brake drum. The shoe'comprises a frame 21- having a circular periphery and i an outer lining --2Z riveted or otherwise securedthereto to form practically a unitary part thereof.

The frame 21 extends circumferentially equal distances beyond the axis of the eccentric pin or stud -l8 and normally midway between the ends of the brakeband 6- but in spaced relation thereto for a purpose presently described, said frame --2lbeing'also extended inwardly and radially across the axis of the rock shaft -16 and around the eccentric pin or stud -18 and is provided with a circumferentially" elongated slot -23 in which the block or cross head l9- is slidable.

That is, the slot -23 extends, circumferent ly q a di t ces beyond and'at opposite sides of the eccentric pin 18 and is provided with inner and outer circular walls normally concentric with the axis of the shaft -A, said slots being of greater circumferential length than the cross head to permit a limited circumferential movement of the brake shoe and cross head relatively to each other.

When the crank arm 20- is in its neutral, position the eccentric pin 18 will also be in the brake shoe 7 outwardly into frictional engagement with the brake drum.

This frictional engagement of the brake shoe with the brake drum will cause the brake shoe to be moved circumferentially a limited distance in the direction of rotation of the drum and this circumferential movement of the brake shoe is utilized to force the brake band -d into frictional engagement with the drum in a manner resently described.

A pair of similar levers 24 are pivotally mounted at their ends at 25 upon suitable lugs 26 on the peripheries of the hub l0 to extend outwardly in normally parallel relation at opposite ends of the brake shoe 7- and are provided with offset portions ---2'? projecting toward each other and normally engaged with the adjacent end faces of the brake shoe, as shown more clearly in Figure l.

The outerend of each lever is interposed between the adjacent ends of the brake shoe -7-- and brake band 6 and, as illustrated, the ends of the brake band are deflected inwardly away from the periphery of the brake drum and engage the outer edges of their respective levers -24- midway between the ends thereof or rather between their pivots -25land points of engagement with the adjacent ends of the brake shoe -7. j

It is now clear that if the brake shoe -7-- is shifted circumferentially by frictional engage-- ment with the rotating brake drum 2- then this motion will be transmitted through the corresponding lever 2 4 to the adjacent end of the brake band 6 thereby effecting a, corresponding circumferential movement of thebrake band. 1

This circumferential movement of the brake band is, however, limited bysuitable stops -28 the rotating drum 2- will cause the brake band to expand against the inner periphery of the drum. for adding its frictional resistance to the rotation of the drum.

That is, assuming that the brake drum is rotated forwardly or in the direction indicated by arrow -x-, Figure l, the operation of the crank shaft 16 from its neutral position will shift the brake shoe -7- radially into engagement with the periphery of the brake drum and this frictional engagement will cause the brake shoe to move in the same direction against the underlying 1ever--24 which, in turn, will transmit its motion to the adjacent end of the brake band 6 f0! shifting said brake band radially and its circumferentially until limited by the engagement l of the upper stop shoulder 28- with the adjacent arm --11 at which time the central portion of the brake band will have been brought into frictional engagement With the brake drum.

During this action the resistance to circumferential movement caused by the engagement of the upper stop -28 with the adjacent arm -1ltogether with the application of power to the opposite end of the brake shoe through the medium of the lever 24- will cause the brake band to gradually engage the periphery of the brake drum from its center toward the ends with increased power over that applied to the brake shoe due to the multiplied leverage between the brake shoe and end of the brake drum.

It is evident from the foregoing description that if the brake drum is rotated in the opposite di rection and the brake shoe 7- is frictionally applied to the periphery of the brake drum it will be rotated upwardly against the upper lever 24- thereby effecting a similar expanding movement of the brake band against the brake surface of the drum, it being understood that in both cases the force applied to the operation of the brake band is considerably greater than that applied to the brake shoe due to the increased leverage from the brake shoe and brake band.

When the crank shaft 16 is released from its brake-applying position and returned to its neutral position the brake shoe -7 and brake band 6 will be returned to their neutral or inactive positions away from the periphery of the brake drum by reason of the positive withdrawal of the brake shoe 7- inwardly through the medium of the crank pin .18-- and cross head or block -19-.

This inward retracting movement of the brake shoe is aided by retracting springs 29 connecting opposite ends of the brake shoe with suitable pins -30 on the periphery of the drum 10-, as shown in Figure 2.

In like manner the opposite ends of the brake band 6- will be retracted inwardly by coiled springs -3 1 connecting them with pins 30' on the periphery of the drum 10'.

The levers 24 are yieldingly held against the adjacent ends of the brake bands 6 by coiled springs 32 to prevent independent vibration thereof and noise incidental to such vibration.

It is, of course, to be understood that although I have shown a single brake mechanism for one of the rear wheels of a motor vehicle it is intended to apply the same mechanism to both of the rear Wheels and that, when desired, the essential features of the invention may be applied to the brake drums for the front wheels and to any other rotary brake drum used in connection with other mechanisms without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What I claimis:

In an internal brake of the character described, the combination with a rotary brake drum and a non-rotatable frame, a rock shaft parallel with the axis of the drum and provided with an cc- 7 centric bearing, a cross head journaled on said FRANK C. THOMPSON. 

